BEIJING, May 22 (Xinhua) -- The following are the updates on the global fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.

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KUALA LUMPUR -- Malaysian Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin will observe a 14-day home quarantine after an official who attended a recent meeting he chaired tested positive for COVID-19, the Prime Minister's Office said in a statement on Friday.

"The prime minister has chaired a post cabinet meeting at the Prime Minister's Office on Wednesday, May 20, 2020," the statement said, "One official present at the meeting has been tested COVID-19 positive."

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GABORONE -- Botswana will begin reopening schools in stages from June 2 for final year students, an official said Thursday.

Bridget John, permanent secretary for the ministry of basic education, said that classes will start across the southern African country for learners from Standard Seven, Form Three and Five, and primary, junior and senior secondary schools, respectively.

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DHAKA -- Bangladesh recorded 24 new COVID-19 fatalities Friday, the highest increase in a single day since the pandemic began in the country on March 8.

The rise in deaths came a day after the country reported 22 COVID-19 fatalities.

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MOSCOW -- Russia has confirmed 8,894 new COVID-19 cases in the last 24 hours, raising its total number of infections to 326,448, its coronavirus response center said in a statement Friday.

CANBERRA -- Almost 6,500 Australians have recovered from COVID-19, the government has revealed.

Alison McMillan, the chief Nursing and Midwifery officer, told reporters on Friday afternoon that 6,479 patients have recovered from COVID-19 in Australia, which she described as a "really encouraging number."

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BAKU -- Azerbaijan on Thursday received another two batches of anti-epidemic medical supplies donated by the Chinese government to help the country fight against the coronavirus.

SYDNEY -- From next month up to 50 people at a time will be allowed in pubs, cafes and restaurants in Australian state of New South Wales, but patrons will be banned from standing, mingling or dancing.